Man Jailed For Bush Remark

CNEWS ^ | December 6, 2002 | December 6, 2002

[Reaganwuzthebest]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- A man who made a remark about a "burning Bush" during the president's March 2001 trip to Sioux Falls was sentenced Friday to 37 months in prison.

Richard Humphreys of Portland, Ore., was convicted in September of threatening to kill or harm the president and said he plans to appeal. He has said the comment was a prophecy protected under his right to free speech.

Humphreys said he got into a barroom discussion in nearby Watertown with a truck driver. A bartender who overheard the conversation realized the president was to visit Sioux Falls the next day and told police Humphreys talked about a "burning Bush" and the possibility of someone pouring a flammable liquid on Bush and lighting it.

"I said God might speak to the world through a burning Bush," Humphreys testified during his trial. "I had said that before and I thought it was funny."

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Jeez, so what about Craig Kilborne when he said 'Where's The Snipers' on TV?

Alec Baldwin openly advocated on one of his shows that U.S. Congressman Henry Hyde and his family should be stoned to death. These actors should be locked up as well, seems to me they made comments just as bad or worse than this drunk did.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Not funny.

No it isn't I agree. All threats like that need to be investigated.

[willyboyishere]

All lame jokes referring to "Bushes" and "burning bushes"
deserve a little jail time at least, just on general principles of "bad taste leads to crime" to quote a great 19th century novelist. This would also include Jesse Jackson's rant of "Get out the Bushes" of the past Pres. election, and the women's movement late 80's placard "BUSH===STAY OUT OF MINE!!!, as if Bush the 1st was hell-bent on overthrowing Roe V. Wade. That one deserved some jail time for all carrying the placard, including my niece
Kymberley.

[patriciaruth]

so what about Craig Kilborne when he said 'Where's The Snipers' on TV?

I called the Secret Service in Los Angeles, and the Secret Service put a choke hold on Kilborne for a week or more, investigating him and his staff thoroughly and putting the fear of God in them.

He also permanently lost me and my husband as viewers.

I emailed Kilborn and told him that under Calfornia's hate crimes law that if someone had taken him up on that incitement to assassinate Governor Bush, "an elected official of this or any other state", that he would have been liable for the death penalty in California.

Since Bobby Kennedy and S.F. mayor Moscone were assassinated here, it isn't a laughing matter to a lot of us.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

I called the Secret Service in Los Angeles, and the Secret Service put a choke hold on Kilborne for a week or more, investigating him and his staff thoroughly and putting the fear of God in them.

Thanks, patricia. Would you please call my brother and tell him to quit worrying his mother. (^:

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Didn't mean to sound so harsh, but the folks on the left do keep inciting hate - with no repercussions. If something happens to our President, or Condi, Laura, etc., because of the shrill rhetoric from the left...their clymers are ours.

Another hatemonger who still has a radio show and was never held accountable by the "rightwing" media for his words during the 2002 Fla. campaign - the "Rev." Victor Curry - radio host and pres. of the Miami NAACP:

Curry charged during his radio show last week that the Bush family and the bin Laden family are partners who want to profit from war. He said they were on a "right-wing mission against the American people" and that the President Bush's administration was a "godless, wicked regime."
Naples Daily News, Oct. 17, 2002.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

What Victor Curry said is nothing compared to what I've heard many liberals on tv and radio say. The hate and venom against conservatives that comes out of so many of them is real, unlike Rush who is just having fun with the other side most of the time.

[cynicom]

When the rulers fear the ruled, we have problems. SS did this for Clinton and it was wrong, and it is wrong now. That is one law that should be struck down.

[Trailerpark Badass]

"Thank you, thanks a lot! I'll be here all week..."

[RnMomof7]

I am going to read this tread with interest..when people were treated like this by King Clinton there was a huge outcry..I just bet it is fine now...sheeple people

[RnMomof7]

When the rulers fear the ruled, we have problems. SS did this for Clinton and it was wrong, and it is wrong now. That is one law that should be struck down.

A voice of reason ..thanks

I happen to think free speech is free speech no matter who is in office..

[nwrep]

Good job by the Secret Service. These comments have to be taken seriously. What some idiots don't realize is that there is no freedom of speech when it comes to making threats against the President . I am glad they are putting this moron in the slammer. I think 37 mos is not long enough, they should put this fool in Gitmo.

[DAnconia55]

Not sure about this one. You can't threaten the President, I just don't know if that's what this guy did here.

Can't we just rename them Kings and be done with it?

[Terridan]

What you did was fantastic!!!
Did you here the black congress woman, during the riots in L.A., (Rodney King Verdict), scream into the television cameras, "don't burn in your own neighborhoods, go into the white mans neighborhood? Geez, her name is lost on me, but you must know who I mean? I was appalled and reported it to FBI, but they never said a word!
Anyway, great job, and best wishes...

[DAnconia55]

When the rulers fear the ruled, we have problems.

Contrare. When the rulers fear the ruled, we have freedom.

[Mulder]

there is no freedom of speech when it comes to making threats against the President

How do you know he was 'making a threat', instead of joking?

Instead of tossing people in jail for making jokes, the feds should be arresting those engaged in a criminal conspiracy to overthrow the US Constitution and our Bill of Rights.

[krb]

37th monthes?

What's a monthe?

[6ta60]

Hey maybe this guy will be also sentence to public service and he can go around to schools and talk to kids. Telling them how 'bad' it is when playing to yell I'm going to kill you or how you shouldn't point your finger and say bang. what's the next step arresting people bitching being stopped in traffic for some motorcade to pass. I think the idiot or moron is the one who would think prosecuting for an overheard conversation in a bar is not a threat to our 1st amendment rights.

[Mulder]

All lame jokes referring to "Bushes" and "burning bushes" deserve a little jail time at least

So you think making a "lame joke" should land an American citizen in jail?

I'd be curious to get you thoughts on punishment for other crimes. For example, what legal penalties do you think should apply to someone arrested for DUI?